a/n Have faith. That's all I ask of you.

CHAPTER 7—SECRETLY… SECRETLY…

For two months Christine and Raoul traveled Europe on their honeymoon, Raoul conducting business in nearly every city they visited and Christine spending an increasing amount of time on her own. Sometimes, she said, she would visit cathedrals and museums, but she spent most of her time writing to Eva.

As she read the letters over, Eva began to feel worse and worse for her friend. Normal men, she knew, did not "conduct business" on honeymoons. Christine had told Eva that most of his work was in the afternoons and evenings and that he sometimes would not come home until very early in the morning. Eva had a nagging suspicion that Raoul's "business" had to do with making sure that Spanish, Italian, and German brothels remained in business. She confided in Nadir, who agreed with her.

"A man does not leave his new wife for simple business," he had said. This had been assurance enough for Eva.

By the time Christine and Raoul returned home, Eva was beginning to think that they were never going to return. One afternoon, though, the doorbell rang and Christine burst through, looking as though she couldn't wait to see Eva. Happy as she was to see her friend, Eva couldn't help ask why she wasn't with her husband.

"He…" Christine looked down at her hands.

"Business," said Eva bitterly. When Christine looked up at her, she added, "I'm sure he'll be home again—"

"You don't have to make excuses for him, Eva," Christine burst out suddenly. "I know where he's been when he comes home smelling like smoke and—and sex!" Eva's eyes widened. Christine's face was beet red. "I know he's going to whorehouses for something I guess that I just can't give him. I swear I must be horrible because after the second night, he had to leave. 'Business,' he said. And when I'd ask where he went, he'd tell me it was none of my business. None of my business!" She threw her hands up, frustrated. "You were right, Eva," she said. "I shouldn't have married him." Christine was so wrapped up in her tirade that she did not notice the door open and someone else step into the room. "I know I'll have a safe, secure future with this man, but it's going to drive me crazy knowing that when he leaves on business with Phillipe that there is a whore in a brothel somewhere making him happier than I am. If I hadn't married him, I'd probably still be in bed being fucked senseless by someone who actually cared and could offer me an exciting future."

Eva's jaw dropped. She had never heard Christine speak in such a vulgar manner. She tried to tell Christine to stop, but a hand over her mouth stopped her. She glared at its owner as Christine ranted on.

"I mean, I know Raoul has been my friend since we were children, but that doesn't mean we had to get married. Maybe I don't please him, but he doesn't please me!" She began to pace as she glared at the floor. "I'm not saying we've not had sex, because we have. We spent days doing nothing but that, and do you know, he never pleasured me once! I had five orgasms in one night with Erik, who I would probably be having the time of my life with right now if I weren't married!" She plunked down in a chair and scowled before turning to Eva. When she saw who was behind her, her eyes widened and her face flushed.

"Oh, God," she moaned, sinking her face into her hands. From between her fingers, Eva heard her say, "Hello, Erik."

Eva took her leave saying she needed to check on Jean, and left Christine and Erik alone. Never in her life had Christine been so embarrassed. For a long time after Eva left neither of them spoke. When she finally moved her hands away from her face, she saw that he was wearing a very handsome smirk. She smiled weakly at him.

"It's very nice to see you too, Christine," he said, before taking a seat across from him. "From communications Eva received from you it seems you were quite disappointed with your husband."

Sighing heavily, Christine resigned herself to having a conversation with Erik that she did not want to have and said, "You heard what I said. I would have been better off if I hadn't married him." She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. "I'll be honest with you, Erik; I really don't want to have this conversation right now. Let's talk about something happy." She opened one eye. "How are Jean's studies coming along?"

Christine found she could hardly understand Erik, he was talking so fast. Every bit the proud uncle, he gushed about his nephew's progress on the violin. Christine felt herself begin to drift off, his deep voice soothing her into sleep. When she opened her eyes, she was disorientated. She was no longer sitting in the parlor, but laying on her guest room bed with a throw blanket thrown over her. Erik was asleep at her desk, hunched over manuscript paper with his fingers curled around his pen. Looking out of the window, she could see that it was twilight. She sat up, rubbing her head. She had not realized how tired she really was. When she stretched and a small sound rose from her throat, Erik stirred at the desk. He looked up, apparently confused, and then looked back at her. Seeing that she was awake, he stood up, gathering his papers. "You should get home," he said.

"Why?"

His face twisted somewhat. "Your husband might worry about you."

Christine shook her head. "My husband is in Milan with Phillipe."

Erik frowned in confusion. "You just got back."

"He stayed behind. I came back alone." Christine looked back out of the window. "How is this going to work if he's never here?" She shook her head. "I suppose you heard what I said downstairs."

"Not all of it."

"I shouldn't have married him." She heaved a sigh. "I should ask for an annulment."

At this, Erik chuckled. "You can't."

"Why not?" she asked.

"You've consummated your marriage. The only way to get rid of him now is divorce, and to the world, he's the perfect Catholic, so that seems very unlikely." Erik began to head to the door, but Christine stopped him.

"You know the ways of the world, Erik," she said slowly, the cogs in her head turning with a wonderfully unholy idea. "Do most men in society have mistresses?"

Erik leaned against the doorway. "It often seems to be that way."

"What would a wife have?"

Eyebrows raised, he stood up straight. "You mean, in equivalent to a mistress? She could have a lover, I suppose." When she gave no response other than to stare at him, his eyes widened. "You don't mean—"

"I do." She stood up, stepping toward him. "Maybe I'm crazy, or just plain stupid—I don't know. But Raoul is never home, and I don't even know if I love him the way I used to. I've tried to love him," she added, "but I can't help…" For a moment she was quiet, then she turned her brown eyes up to Erik's green ones. "When he was making love to me, I almost said your name." She slipped her hand into his. "I want to say your name," she whispered.

Erik looked down at her for a long time before he spoke. "If we do this," he said slowly, "I want you to know that there could be consequences. If he ever found out—"

"He won't," she said. "He's never here."

Grasping her arm, he shook his head. "No, Christine," he said. "He can't know. Ever." He was speaking differently than she had ever heard him speak before. His eyes looked desperately into hers. "This has to be a secret."

"It will," she said. Then she was lost again, lost in his eyes, his lips, his hands…

No one at the Chagney home noticed that she did not come back that night.

a/n Okay, really short, sucky chapter, but it's here.

I would like to leave a quick note regarding reviews. I'm not making you read this--if you don't like it,STOP READING. I honestly won't be offended, because I probably won't even know you read it at all. You're totally encouraged to tell me what sucks and what rocks about this. Do not, however, leave vague shit that is a waste of my EXTREMELY valuable time to read, like, "Jeeze, I don't think I wanted to read this." WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU STILL READING? (This is the part where steam shoots from the ears and Gracie runs down the hall screaming, freaking out everyone on her floor.) I'm sorry if that was offensive, because I love you guys--you know that. I just get cranky when people say stuff like that, then don't tell me, "You know, it would be really nifty if you could do this..." because I actually respond to that. If you've read my The Last Night, you know this--that's the whole point of that story-ish thing. So please, leave constructive reviews. It's really what encourages me to write more chapter and less bitchy notes. Sorry again if I offended you with any harsh language or bad attitude.

Another little sidenote--tink20, Twinkle22, andDarkMoonLightBright: you guys are AWSOME! You've been here forever, and I love you to death for it. This chapter belongs to you guys. Love you!